Hood catch



L. CRAM m m,

BJ p

HOOD CATCH Filed Aug, 3. 1933.

Patented ug. 16, 1932 UNTED PATEN'I" LEROY 4V. CRAM AND JOI-1N F. TVILSON, OF DETROET', MICHIGAN", ASSIG'NORS TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATEGF', OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F YD-EI'JHIVAl-E HOOD CATCH applicati@ ined August' aprem. kserial No. 554,781.

rlhis invention relates to hood catches and has particular reference to catches used to hold down the hoods of automotive vehicles.

e The object of the invention is to combine the operating mea-ns for the usual plurality of hood catches to a single handle and to forni a hood catch which is resilient and which is composed of ai spring member. rihe hook or catch of the invention comprises a spring which is coiled about a pivot and has one end adaptedto engage under a bracket which is secured to the radiator shell or to the dashboard. The other end of the hook 25 is pivoted tol an operating link which e2;n

tends to the middle of the hood and is operated by a handle.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 shows the side view of the hood of an automotive vehicle with the invention applied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the bracket and hook with their operative position shown in full lines and the inoperative position in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view `of the interconnection between the links which operate the hood hooks.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of 3o Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 2 indicates the cowl of an automotive vehicle, 4 the hood, 6 the radiator shell, 8 the dashboard and 9 the chassis. Secured to the shell 6 and dashboard S are the brackets 10 which` are adapted to receive Vthe hooks or catches 12 of the invention.

rEhe particular novelty of the invention resides in the hook 12.y The hook comprises a spring, the centralportion 14 of which is coiled. One end 15 engages under the bracket 10, the other end 16 is preferablyv formed 15 into an eye and receives the bent end 17 of a link 18. Y

On the inside of the hood at its lower portion and adjacent the brackets 10, there are secured themounting brackets 20. The

brackets 2O have the raised Vportion 22 pro- The bearing member 46 vided with an openingv 24 in which there is journally mounted the pivot or stud 26. Thev Studis'` secured to the raised portion 22 by the peened-over portion 28. Thecoil 14 of the spring hook 12 is turnably mounted on the pivot 26 and is held thereon by means of a U-shaped spring clip V30 positioned in a groove 32 in the pivot 26.V

The 4links 18 extend to the center of the hood and are interconnected by means of a short throw arm 34. The ends of the short throw arm have openings 36 to receive the bent ends 38 of the links 18. The throwia'rm shoulder 54 bears against the side of the reinforcing member'48 or 50.V

rlhe operation of the hood catchV is as follows: The full line position of the parts in Figures 2 and 3 shows the locked position of the catch. It will be noted that vthe connection of the hooked end 38 in the opening 36 of the throw arm 34 is over-centered with reference to the axis of the handle 40. It will, therefore, be impossible to raise the hood against the over-centered connection. Then the parts are in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, the coil portion of the spring 14 will be under tension and will cause the soY hook 12 tightly to bear against the underside of the bracket l() firmly to lock lthe hoodV in its down position. TWhen the handle is turned counter-clockwise with reference to i Figure 3, the throw arm 34 and links 18will Y be moved to the dotted line position. This" will swing the end l16 from the full line position in Figure 2to`the dotted line position which will give a movement to the hook l2 and end 15 yfrom the full line vposition tothe dotted line position. In thisV latter position` of the parts, the hooks are free from the` brackets 10 and the hood may be raised. To

lock the hood, the parts are moved in the reverse direction.

We claim: l. In a catch for the hoods of automotive vehicles, a plurality of brackets secured to relatively stationary parts of the yehicle, a

plurality of hooks pivoted to the interiorlof the hood, one hook for each bracket, a plus rality of links, said hooks each comprising a resilient member coiled intermediate itsends and having one end for-engagement With the'.

brackets and the other end pivotally lcon= nected to one of said links, means intercon-A necting said links, and means exterior to the hood and operating said interconnecting kmeans to cause said links to move the hooks into engagement with or out of engagement from the brackets. c Y A l 2. In a catch for the hoods of automotive vehicles, a pluralityv of brackets secured to relatively stationary parts oic the vehicle, a

plurality of resilient hooks pivoted to the interior o' the hood, one hookvfor each bracket, said hooks each comprisin@V a spring havino free ends with its intermediar art t! coiled about the pivot, one end of said hooks being adapted to engage its cooperating bracket, links pivotally engaging the other end of the hooks and extending toward each other, means interconnesting,` the links, and

a handle exterior to the hood connected to said means for operatingthe links to cause engagement and disenffageinent of said hooks with said brackets.

In testimony Whereoi` We afx our signatures. -f i i Y LEROY V. CRAM.

i' JOHN EILSON. 

